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The city
of Bursa, southeast of the Sea of Marmara, lies on the
lower slopes of Uludag (Mt. Olympos of Mysia, 2,443
meters). The city derives its name from its founder
Prusias, King of Bithynia. It subsequently came under
Roman, then Byzantine rule before falling to Orhan
Gazi in 1326, becoming the first capital of the
Ottoman Empire. Many important Ottoman buildings
remain. Known as "Green Bursa", the city is filled
with gardens and parks and overlooks a verdant plain.
It is at the center of an important fruit growing
region. Bursa was, and is still, famous for its silk
trade, towel manufacture and thermal springs. You must
taste locally invented Iskender Kebab, a dish of bread,
tomato sauce, strips of grilled meat, melted butter
and yogurt. Candied chestnuts are another regional
speciality. A tour of the city begins in the eastern
section at the Yesil Turbe (Green Mausoleum). Set in a
garden and distinguished by its paneling of blue tiles,
the mausoleum holds the tiled cenotaph of Sultan
Mehmet I. Across the street, the Yesil Mosque of 1424
reflects the new Ottoman, as opposed to Seljuk,
aesthetic. A medrese nearby completes the complex,
which is also home to the Ethnography Museum. Before
exploring this area, stop of tea in one of the
traditional tea houses.
Uphill, to the east, you pass, by the Emir Sultan
Mosque in its delightful setting, and after walking
through a district of old houses you reach the
Yildirim Beyazit [1391] Now make your way to
Cumhuriyet Square [known locally as Heykel] and stroll
along Ataturk Avenue to Koza Park where outdoor cafes
are set among flowers and fountains.At the back of the
park , a long building, the Koza Han (1490), houses
the trade in silk cocoons. From here you proceed to
the covered bazaar area, with its narrow streets
caravanserais and bedesten. On the other side of Koza
Park stands the Orhan Gazi Mosque, built in 1413, and
one of Bursa's oldest religious buildings. Nearby the
large Ulu Mosque was constructed in the Seljuk style.
A final carved walnut mimber (speaker's platform),and
impressive calligraphic panels decorate the mosque.
The sadirvan (ablutions fountain) lies unusally within
the mosque itself under ceiling of twenty domes.
Walking west from the Ulu Mosque you arrive at Hisar,
an old and picturesque quarter of Bursa. In the park
that overlooks the valley are the mausoleums of Osman,
the founder of the Ottoman Empire, and his son Orhan
Gazi, who commanded the army that conquered Bursa. The
cafes of Tophane offer a good place to stop for
refreshment. In nearby Ressamlar Sokak (Painters'
Street), local artists work in the open air. At the
Yildiz Park Tea Gardens in the Muradiye quarter, you
get a superb view of the Muradiye Complex. The
compound, in a tranquil park-like setting, contains
the Mosque of Sultan Murat II (1426) built in the
style of the Yesil Mosque and the tombs of Murat 11,
Sehzade Cem and Sehzade Mustafa. These contain some of
the loveliest decoration and tile work. The nearby
Ottoman House Museum in a restored 17th century
dwelling provides an interesting glimpse into the
lives of wealthy Ottomans. Other places of interest in
Bursa include the Culture Park with the Bursa
Archaeological Museum,and the Ataturk Museum on the
road to Cekirge. The western suburb of Cekirge has
been known since Roman times for its warm mineral-rich
springs. Many modern hotels have thermal bath
facilities and you can also visit the old hamams. Yeni
Kaplica [new spring] was built by Suleyman the
Magnificents Grand Vizier, Rustem Pasa, in 1552.The
Eski Kaplica [old spring], built on the site of the
original Byzantine baths , is the oldest bath .The
Karamustafa Pasa baths are reputed to have the best
hot mineral waters in Bursa.
Buildings of interest in Cekirge
include the Mosque and Mausoleum of Murat I and the
tomb of Suleyman Celebi, a religious poet. the
monument to Karagoz commemorates the character whose
humorous antics are immortalized in Turkish shadow
puppet theater. Uludag is the
largest winter-sports center in Turkey and offers a
variety of activities, accommodation and entertainment
thirty-six kilometers from Bursa, the slopes are
easily reached by car or cable car [teleferik].
December to May is the best time for skiing, although
the area , which a national park , is well worth a
visit at any time of the year for the lovely views and
wonderful fresh air. A seaside resort town 25 km from
Bursa , Mudanya's fine fish restaurants and nightclubs
are popular with the residents of Bursa. The
Aarmistice museum is worth a visit. Just 12 km from
Mudanya, Zeytinbagi [tirilye] exemplifies the
architecture and layout of a typical Turkish town.
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